Liquid dispenser, in particular for electronic cigarettes

ABSTRACT

Dispenser ( 1 ) of a liquid, made of a single piece of moulded plastic material, comprising a first part ( 2 ) provided with a first flange ( 2 A) from which a first tubular portion extends ( 2 B) on top of which sealing means ( 3 ) are formed which are configured to couple with a mouth of a bottle to which the dispenser may be associated, the first flange ( 2 A) defining an opening ( 4 ) for access to a compartment ( 6 ) which is perimetrically delimited by the tubular portion ( 2 B), the dispenser further comprising a second part ( 5 ) hinged to the first part ( 2 ), provided with an intermediate portion ( 5 A) from which a second tubular portion ( 5 B) extends, which is configured to fit tightly inside the opening ( 4 ), and a metering nozzle ( 5 C) which is internally hollow and provided with a dispensing port ( 7 ), the metering nozzle extending from the intermediate portion ( 5 A) on the opposite side with respect to that from which the second tubular portion ( 5 B) extends.

The disclosure of Italian Patent Application No. 102018000003536 is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a liquid dispenser.

In particular, it refers to a dispenser used to quickly and effectively mix at least two different liquids for electronic cigarettes, for example a base and a flavouring.

BACKGROUND ART

As is known, liquid dispensers are used in multiple fields.

One particularly significant field is that of electronic cigarettes, which must be filled with specific liquids, which usually include a vaporizable base and optionally a flavouring or nicotine (if not already included in the base) to be diluted in the latter in order to obtain an end result to the consumer's liking.

According to prior art, bases and flavourings are supplied by the various producers in separate containers.

The end user mixes the two liquid substances to obtain a final liquid to the liking thereof.

There are various situations in the retail market. The user can buy a base liquid, usually sold in a half-full container, to which to add the preferred flavouring.

One alternative is to buy both the base liquid and the flavouring in containers which are full. In this case, the retailer also provides an empty bottle in which the user can mix the two liquids.

Currently known containers include a bottle, at the mouth of which is there is a metering device associated, which is interference-fitted into the mouth in a sealed manner.

When (total or partial) filling is necessary, the dispenser must be removed from the neck of the bottle to clear the opening thereof.

The operation is complicated and there is a risk of liquid being wasted (if the said liquid is present in the container to be filled). Last but not least, the extraction of the dispenser (which must form a seal) is also complicated by the small size thereof. It should be noticed that the containers are very “small” and designed to contain 10, 20, or 50 ml of liquid. Consequently, the dispensers are also very small and difficult to handle using one's fingers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispenser which simplifies the operations to fill the bottle with which the dispenser is associated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved, easily fillable liquid container.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method for creating a liquid mixture, for example for electronic cigarettes, quickly and simply.

This and other objects are achieved by means of a dispenser and a method for the use thereof according to the technical teachings of the claims annexed hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer in the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the device, illustrated—by way of a non-limiting example—in the drawings annexed hereto, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container with which a metering device according to the present invention is associated, shown in a filling position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container in FIG. 1 further associated with a cap and sealed;

FIG. 3 is a view of the container in FIG. 1, in which the dispenser is in the dispensing position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dispenser according to the present invention, in the dispensing configuration;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the dispenser in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view of the dispenser according to the present invention, in the filling configuration;

FIG. 8 is a bottom-up plan view of the container in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a section taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures stated, reference number 1 is used to denote, as a whole, a liquid dispenser, for example for an electronic cigarette liquid.

In the initial part of the description that follows, reference will be made to FIGS. 4 and 7.

The liquid dispenser 1, e.g. for an electronic cigarette liquid, in FIGS. 4 and 7 is made of a single piece of moulded plastic.

Preferably the dispenser is made by injection moulding. Some plastics which are suitable for forming the dispenser may be, for example: PE, PP, or other materials used in plastic moulding.

The dispenser 1 is formed of a first 2 and a second part 5, which are mutually interconnected by a hinging 18. The hinging 18 may be formed of a tongue of thin plastic, which is therefore less thick and therefore less rigid than the adjacent portions.

The first part 2 may be equipped with a first flange 2A from which a first tubular portion 2B extends (towards the bottom of FIG. 7) on top of which sealing means 3 are formed, which may be configured to couple with the inner wall of a mouth of a bottle, to which the dispenser may be associated.

FIG. 1 shows a bottle 20 with the dispenser 1 fitted.

Returning to FIG. 7, note that the first flange 2A defines an opening 4 providing access to a compartment 6 which is perimetrically delimited by the tubular portion 2B.

The sealing means 3 can be produced in many different ways. For example, the said means may consist of simply a frusto-conical surface or may be formed of at least one perimetral swelling 12 (or multiple swellings) on the outer surface of the tubular portion 2B. Obviously, in certain embodiments, the external surface of the tubular portion may be slightly frusto-conical and there may be swellings thereupon.

To facilitate insertion into the mouth of the bottle 20, the tubular portion may feature a taper, which may also consist of simply an end portion whose external diameter is smaller than the diameter where the sealing means 3 are located (see FIG. 5, for example).

The fact that the dispenser fits and seals inside the mouth of the bottle 20 (or container), basically reduce the radial encumbrance of the dispenser; this allows the possibility to fit the cap 3 over the container, screwed on a thread formed on the outside wall of the mouth of the container 20.

The second part 5 of the dispenser, which is—as already mentioned—hinged to the first part 2, is equipped (FIG. 7) with a median portion 5A (which may also have a flange configuration) from which a second tubular portion 5B extends, the said second tubular portion being configured to fit, in a sealed fashion, inside the opening 4. There is also a metering nozzle 5C, which is internally hollow and equipped with a dispensing port 7. As can be seen from FIG. 7, the metering nozzle extends from the median portion 5A, on the side opposite that from which the second tubular portion 5B extends.

To be suitable for the use with e-cig liquids, the metering nozzle may be a dropper. Specifically, the nozzle 5C may be least 9 mm long, and it is narrower than, and slots comfortably into, the opening of the tank of the electronic cigarette with which it is used.

The dispensing port 7 may be configured to emit no more than 20 drops of refill liquid per minute when placed vertically and subjected to atmospheric pressure alone at 20° C.±5° C.

Moreover, the nozzle 5 c and the opening 7 may be designed in line with the DECISION (EU) 2016/586.

To facilitate dispenser opening, providing access to the opening 4, at least one portion 50 of the peripheral surface of the first median portion 5A may extend beyond the perimeter of the first flange 2A when the median portion 5A is placed on the first flange 2A (see FIG. 6). In practice, the protruding part 50 may constitute a point for gripping or hooking (for example using the nail) by a user.

For example, as can be seen in FIG. 8, the first flange 2A, seen in plan view, may define a first rectilinear portion 8A where the second part 5 is hinged, and a second rectilinear portion 8B, the first and the second rectilinear portions being interconnected by circular arcs. In practice, the protruding part 50 of the second flange 5A is located only at the second straight section 8B of the first flange 2A.

Also, to facilitate the opening of the dispenser, a projecting wall 9 may extend from the median portion 5A, on the same side as the nozzle 5B. The projecting wall 9 provides a surface for a user to apply pressure during dispenser opening. For example, a user can press the protruding part 9 using the finger pad of the thumb thereof.

To facilitate dispenser closure, the second tubular portion 5B may be equipped with a sloped end portion 10. In order to improve the seal between the first and second part of the dispenser, the tubular portion may have a frusto-conical surface 11.

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show a container for a liquid, for example of an electronic cigarette liquid, comprising a bottle 20 equipped with a threaded neck 20A which defines a bottle mouth 20B. The dispenser disclosed above is sealed inside the mouth with the tubular portion 2B fitted in the bottle mouth 20B and with the first flange 2A abutting against a clear surface of the mouth 20B.

The container further comprises a cap 30 (absent from FIGS. 1 and 3, but clearly visible in FIG. 2). The cap 30 is a child-proof safety cap and is screwed onto the bottle neck 20A, and specifically on a thread provided on the outer part of the bottle neck in the same area where the mouth is located. Obviously, the interior of the cap 30 must have enough room to house the nozzle 5C.

Upon first use, the container may be partially filled with a first liquid L, which may be an electronic cigarette liquid. The liquid L may, for example, be an electronic cigarette base liquid (with or without pre-mixed nicotine) or a flavouring for electronic cigarette liquids, or a different base liquid for a mixture.

In this case, it is important that the liquid L only partially fills the bottle, in order to leave a free volume for the addition, inside the said bottle container, of a further liquid to be mixed with the first.

In practice, use of the bottle to obtain a (mixed end) liquid, e.g. for an electronic cigarette, is performed according to the following method.

Initially, the cap 30 is removed from the container partially filled with liquid (for example, in the case of electronic cigarettes, a nicotine-free base).

The second part 5 is then rotated around the hinging 18 with the first part 2 so as to clear the opening 4, and a further liquid (e.g. an electronic cigarette flavouring) is poured into the opening 4 to mix the said further liquid with the first liquid L already present in the bottle.

Optionally a third liquid may be added, e.g. with a high concentration of nicotine, in the specific amount required to obtain the desired final nicotine value.

The second part 5 is then rotated around the hinging 18 so as to insert the said part into the opening 4, and therefor seal the dispenser.

Finally, the cap 30 is repositioned on the container and screwed onto the neck 20A, and—if necessary—the whole assembly is agitated.

At this point, the mixed liquid is ready for use and, once the cap 30 has been removed, may be dispensed via the dispensing port of the dispenser 1.

The description above clearly shows how the dispenser is particularly suitable for the use of electronic cigarette liquids, although, obviously, use thereof may be quickly and effectively extended to any type of liquid, whether for mixing with others or not.

It has therefore been demonstrated that the dispenser disclosed herein allows a more convenient and simple use than those according to the prior art.

According to a different use, the container may also be sold empty and subsequently filled by the user with liquids (to be mixed) inside the bottle, making full use of the convenience offered.

Various embodiments of the innovation have been disclosed herein, but further embodiments may also be conceived using the same innovative concept. 

1. Dispenser (1) of a liquid, in particular of electronic cigarette liquid, made of a single piece of molded plastic material, comprising a first part (2) provided with a first flange (2A) from which a first tubular portion extends (2B) on which are formed sealing means (3) configured to couple with a mouth of a bottle to which the dispenser can be associated, the first flange (2A) defining an opening (4) for access to a compartment (6) perimetrically delimited by the tubular portion (2B), the dispenser further comprising a second part (5) hinged to the first part (2), provided with a intermediate portion (5A) from which a second tubular portion (5B) extends, configured to fit tightly inside the opening (4), and of a metering nozzle (5C) internally hollow and provided with a dispensing port (7), the metering nozzle (5C) extending from the intermediate portion (5A) on the opposite side with respect to that from which the second tubular portion (5B) extends.
 2. Dispenser (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the peripheral surface of the first intermediate portion (5A) extends beyond the perimeter of the first flange (2A) when the intermediate portion (5A) rests on the first flange (2A).
 3. Dispenser according to claim 1, in which the first flange (2A), seen in plan view, defines a first rectilinear portion (8A) where the second part (5) is hinged, and a second rectilinear portion (8B), the first and the second rectilinear portions being interconnected by circular arcs.
 4. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein from the intermediate portion (5A), form the same side of the metering nozzle (5C), a projecting wall (9) extends, configured to facilitate, providing a thrust surface for a user, the opening of the second part (5) when the latter is fitted in the opening (4).
 5. Dispenser according to claim 1, in which the second tubular portion (5B) is provided with a sloped end portion (10), and with a frusto-conical sealing surface (11).
 6. Dispenser according to claim 1, in which the sealing means (3) comprise a frusto-conical surface and/or at least a perimetral swelling (12) of the outer surface of the tubular portion (2B).
 7. A container of a liquid comprising a bottle (20) provided with a threaded neck (20A), which defines a mouth (20B) of the bottle, a dispenser (1) according to claim 1, with the tubular portion (2B) inserted into the mouth (20B) of the bottle and with the first flange (2A) abutting against a free surface of the mouth (20B), and an anti-child safety cap (30) screwed to the neck (20A) of the bottle, the inside of the cap (30) providing a space large enough to house the metering nozzle (5C).
 8. Container according to claim 7, wherein the container is partially filled of a first liquid (L), preferably of an electronic cigarette.
 9. Method for obtaining a mixed liquid, comprising the steps of: removing the cap (30) of a container according to claim 8, turning the second part (5) around the hinging (18) with the first part (2), so as to free the opening (4), pouring an additional liquid into the opening, in particular of electronic cigarette liquid, to mix it with the first liquid (L) contained in the container, turning the second part (5) around the hinging so as to insert it into the opening (4), and repositioning the cap (30) on the container by screwing it to the neck (20A). 